Pictures for Your Pleasure

After a rough start this morning, Esther turned a corner and started feeling better later in the afternoon. Zofran is helping to keep her nausea under control and she has actually eaten some food that hasn’t revisited her. She got a second dose of an IV immunosuppressant and (hopefully) her last dose of IV prednisone. She may have to continue on a small dose of oral prednisone until her levels of Prograf are where they want them to be. She reacted again to the steroids today, but it wasn't as intense or as long as yesterday. She walked the “big lap” around the pediatric floor twice. This morning they cut her IV fluids back to 50 ml per hour, but she still has neither desire nor tolerance for drinking. That will have to be tomorrow's big objective.

Katherine reports that today was also a turning point for her. She came for a visit just in the window of time when Esther was feeling the best ever!

Katherine and Esther are both looking great!


Two second cousins - Nicole and Esther


Katherine and company...
Front row, left to right: These are the folks who came to support and care for Katherine - Ashley Copeland (her sister-in-law), Nancy Copeland Kelley (her sister), the star herself, Nicole (her 5-year old daughter), Ben Kelley (her brother-in-law).
Back row, left to right: These are just two of the folks who are so incredible blessed by Katherine's gift - Tom and Nancy

One more picture for tonight....not for the faint of heart. Esther's outermost layer of skin is actually glued together.